Device for marking surfaces



Nov. 5, 1957 c. L. GARDNER DEVICE FOR MARKING SURFACES g Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 2, A12355 @1mm @Mauer Nov. 5, 1957 C, 1 GARDNER v 2,812,211

, DEVICE FOR MARKINGSURFACES Filed Nov. 2, 1955 y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A @muck Gowdner" aw fr# l /`9 )7 Qt'lorney DEVICE FOR MARKING SURFACES Claude L. Gardner, Jefferson, Iowa Application November 2, 1955, Serial No. 544,447

6 Claims. (Cl. 299-285) This invention relates to surface marking devices and more particularly to equipment for producing lines on football fields, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, tracks, pavements, decks and like.

While my unit may be used successfully for many line marking purposes, I shall describe it as used for line marking athletic playing surface. Usually such ground surface is earthen or covered with grass. The present usual method of marking the lines is by powdered lime stone. An average football game will substantially obliterate the line markings. A rain will render the lines almost unusable. In fact wind has a decided eroding effect on powdered lime lines. Furthermore,powdered lime when stirred up by the participants is bad for the nose, throat and lungs. Also it takes a Workman considerable time to line mark a field.

Therefore, one of the objects of my invention is to provide a device that will line mark a surface, be it a dirt surface, grass covered surface, or a composition surface with a long lasting adhesive waterproof liquid paint.

More specifically the object of my invention is to provide a unit for applying a line of rubber based paint onto the playing surface.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for applying a line of paint, that will produce the desired markings easily and quickly.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a paint line marker that is highly portable.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a paint line producing device that contines the applied paint to a line of accurate uniform width.

Still further objects of my invention are to provide a paint line applicator that is economical in manufacture, durable in use, and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination, of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my device,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the paint retaining wall housing, and more fully illustrates its construction,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of my unit, and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View of the device taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

In these drawings I have used the numeral to designate the chassis which is in the form of an elongated longitudinal bar as shown in Fig. 4. The numeral 11 designates a wheel fork having rotatably mounted therein the front wheel 12. The pintle 13 of the fork extends upwardly through the bearing 14 on the forward end of the chassis bar 10. A cotter key or like 15 holds the pintle in the bearing when making a straight painted line.

nit-ed States Patent 2,812,211 -Patented Nov. 5, 1957 .ICC

This fork may be locked to the frame 10 by inserting a pin 16 through registering holes 17 in the bar frame chassis and top of the fork, as shown in Fig. 3. The numeral 18 designates'the rear axle rod rotatably held onto the rear of the frame bar 10 by the two U-bolts 19 as shown in Fig. 3. The numeral 20 designates tWo spaced apart parallel bearing posts on the axle rod 18. The numeral 21 designates a plate platform slidable on the two posts Ztl. The numeral 22 designates a lower coil spring on each of the posts 20 and below the plate 21. The numeral 23 designates an upper coil spring on each of the posts 20 and above the plate 21. Nut 24 is threaded on the n upper free end of each of the posts 20. Thus the plate 21 is resilently supported and free floating. The numeral 25 designates a U-handle bar member secured to the rear end portion of the plate platform 21. On the forward top portion of the platform I mount an ordinary common spray tank 26 having the usual filling lid portion 27, the usual pump handle 28, and the outlet hose 29. Imposed in the hose is the usual manual valve 30 which I have secured at a handy place on the handle 25 as shown in Fig. 3. The numeral 4t) designates the two rear wheels on the axle shaft 18. The numeral 31 designates the spray atomizing nozzle on the free end of the flexible hose. In the tank l place any suitable paint (waterproof when dry) such as commercial paint having a rubber, asbestos, or like base. Obviously with suitable paint in the tank under air pressure, a spray of paint particles will exit in atomized form from the nozzle when the hand valve is opened. Any suitable design, such as numbers, may be painted with the hose. However, the chief purpose of my unit is the making of marker lines and the nozzle portion is bolted through and on the bar frame lil as shown in Fig. 3. Loosely embracing the nozzle 31 and secured on the bottom of the bar frame 10 is an endless rectangular downwardly extending wall or rectangular box shield 32 open at its bottom and top. This shield 32 has an inside width greater than that of the width of the bar frame 10 to provide air passageway at each side of the frame bar lil as shown in Fig. 4. The front and rear portions of the rectangular member 32 are shorter than its side portions.

These two spaced apart side portions extend downwardly almost to the surface 33 to bepainted, and have their lower forward corners rounded for guiding them over obstacles. In operation the paint spray 34 from the nozzle sprays downwardly inside the member 32, and its two confining side portions retain the spray laterally so that a ribbon of paint is produced on the surface as the unit is wheeled over the surface. To use the device the handle 2S is manually grasped, moved rearwardly to the angle suitable to the user as shown in Fig. 3, and then by pushing the unit, and with the valve 30 open, the paint will be laid on the .desired marker line. The operation is easy and rapid. In case the surface is grass covered, the grass stems, leaves and like will be completely covered with the quick drying adhesive waterproof paint. The painted line will have long life and may be done even days before a game. Rough usage will not materially affect the excellence of the line as a marker. When the device is not in actual use, the handle 25 is moved forwardly until the front end of the platform rests on and is supported by the chassis bar 10 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The ribbon of paint is designated by the numeral 35. By the plate being spring supported, shock to the tank and handle when moving over rough .terrain is eliminated. The member 32 is longitudinally elongated and its two side wall portions are parallel.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my device for marking surfaces without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modifiedforms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, an elongated bar, a wheel supporting the front of said bar, two wheel means supporting the rear of saidbar, a downwardly extending rectangular wallhQusing on-the bottom of said bar open at bottom and top and having a width greater than the width of said bar, a platform operatively hingedly associated with said bar, a liquid paint spraying lmeans on said platform and having a nozzle discharging into said housing, and ahandle secured to said platform; said platform capable of having its forward end portion engage said bar when tilted forward by said handle and when in such position capable of stabilizing said spraying means in an upright rigidposition 2. In adevice of the class described, an elongated bar, a wheel supporting theA front of said bar, two wheel means supporting the rear of said bar, a'downwardly extending rectangular wall housing on Ithe bottom of said bar open at bottom and top and having a width greater than the width of said bar, a spring supported platform operatively hingedly associated with said bar, a liquid paint spraying means on said platform and having a nozzle discharging into said housing, and `a handle on said platform for moving the device over a surface.

3. In aidevice of the class described, an elongated bar, a wheel supporting the front of said bar, two Wheel means supporting the rear of said bar, a downwardly extending rectangular wall housing on the bottom of said bar open at bottom and top, having its two side walls extending downwardly to a horizontal plane below the bottom horizontal plane of its two end walls, and having a width greater than the width of said bar, a platform operatively hingedly associated with said bar, a liquid paint spraying means on said platform and having a nozzle discharging into said housing, ,and a handle secured to said platform; said platform capable of having its forward end portion `engage said bar when tilted forward by said handle and whenin such `position capable of stabilizing said spraying means in an upright rigid position.

4. 'In a device of the class described, an elongated bar, a wheel supporting the front of said bar, two wheel means ysupporting the rear of said bar, a downwardlyk extending rectangular wall housing on the bottom of said bar open at its bottom and top and having a width greater than the `width of said bar, a spring supported platform opera tively hingedly associated with said bar, a liquid paint spraying means on said platform and having a nozzle discharging into said housing, and a handle on said platform for movingthe device over a surface; said downwardly extending rectangular wall having two side walls and two end walls, ywith the side walls extending downwardly to a horizontal plane below the horizontal planes of the bottoms of the end walls.

5. In a device of the class described, an elongated bar, a wheel supporting the front of said bar, two wheel means supporting the rear of said bar, a downwardly extending'rectangularlwall housing on the bottom of said bar open atits bottom, a spring supported platform operatively hingedly associated with said bar, a liquid paint spraying .means on said platform and having a nozzle discharging into said housing, and ahandle on said plat form for moving the device over a surface; said downwardly extending rectangular wall extending downwardly to a horizontal plane below the horizontal planes of the bottoms of the end walls.

6. In a device of the class described, an elongated bar, a wheel supporting thefront of said bar, two wheel means supporting the rear of said bar, an elongated downwardly extending rectangular wall housing on the bottom of said bar open atits bottom and top and having a width greater than the width of said bar, a spring supported platform operatively vhingedly associated with said bar, a liquid paint .sprayingmeans 0n said platform and having a nozzle discharging into `said housing, and a handle on saidplatforrn for moving the device over a surface; said elongated downwardly extending rectangular Wall having two side walls and two end walls, with the side walls extending downwardly to a horizontal plane below the horizontal planes of the bottoms of the end walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent AUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,314,129 Daley Mar. 16, 1943 2,317,288 McCubbin Apr. 20, 1943 2,351,719 Stahl 1 June 20, 1944 2,657,938 Browne et al Nov. 3, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 147,622 Australia Aug. 1, 1952 156,949 Australia June 7, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES Catalog, Sears, Roebuck and Co., Spring and Summer 1955, page 1047, item 30K0707 (a rubber base waterproof paint), and page 1205, item 71K01512 (a sprayer). 

